Develop your project
The educational model of a European Blue School is based on ten key points. These can be considered both as guidelines to develop a project and as criteria to self-evaluate the project that is already underway or recently completed.
Any school, whether public or private, coastal or inland, can become a European Blue School if it carried out, or is currently realizing a project connected to the ocean and designed in agreement with the Blue Schools criteria.
The first five criteria are compulsory, and ensure that all Blue Schools provide the same quality and value for their students. Every project needs to address these criteria to obtain the European Blue Schools certification:
- Develop a project with interlinked activities
- Produce a clear output
- Involve all students
- Collaborate with a local partner
- Communicate project results
The remaining criteria are optional: - Provide authentic learning experiences
- Work in a multi-disciplinary manner
- Mobilize beyond the classroom
- Foster land-sea interaction
- Bring in a European dimension
For more info about these criteria, and help surrounding the creation and execution of your project, view the 'How to develop your project' page:
Submit your project and become a European Blue School
Have you developed a project that meets the 5 mandatory criteria, and performed it with your pupils? Then you can submit your project to acquire the Blue School Certificate!
The European Blue School initiative is open to all schools within the European Union and countries associated with Horizon Europe. These schools can apply to receive the certification and can take part in the online European Blue School Community.
The application form is available only in English and must be filled out in English as well. Your project must be either ongoing or already finished. Applications submitted in languages other than English and for projects that have not started before the application period will not be considered.
You do not need an EU-login to complete the application form.
Applications are open twice a year (September – December and January-May) and are reviewed by the European Blue Schools coordinating team. After the evaluation period, you will be informed of the results via email. Applications are reviewed at the beginning of each month: October, November, December, February, March, and April, with a final assessment after the deadline (December 15th and May 31st).
During the evaluation process, teachers may be contacted for additional information. Following the evaluation, teachers will receive the results via email. If approved, the European Blue School Certificate will be issued for the current school year. If declined, the project can be modified to fulfill the requirements and resubmitted.
If you encounter any issues with the application form, please contact us at infoblueschools [dot] eu (info[at]blueschools[dot]eu).
Submissions for the Network of European Blue Schools are now open. The application deadline is December 15, 2024.
If your application matches the five compulsory criteria for projects, you will receive a notification that your school is selected to become a European Blue School. Should the project not fulfill the requirements for certification, we will contact you with further information.
Following certification, make sure to keep in touch with the Network through the Blue newsletter, Facebook group, and community #EUBlueSchools
Blue School Certification: geographical location
Based on geographical location, two types of blue school certificates are granted by the NEBS. Both certifications have the same evaluation criteria and provide access to all networking events, professional development opportunities, resources, and tools provided by the NEBS.
- European Blue School Certificate
Issued for schools that meet the criteria and are located in an EU country: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Certified European Blue Schools are eligible to receive grants from the EU4Ocean Coalition for Ocean Literacy’s call ‘Challenge of the Year’ and from Mission projects ProBlue, SHORE and BlueLightS.
- Associated Blue School Certificate
Issued for schools that meet the criteria and are located in a third country associated with Horizon Europe.
Certified Associated Blue Schools are only eligible to receive grants from Mission projects ProBlue, SHORE and BlueLightS. The application for grants is done directly via the three partner project websites – not through the NEBS.
More on the Blue School certification based on geographical location can be found in the "NEBS Guidelines for non-EU countries" document.